By Chibuzo Ihegboro
The Niger Delta region, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources-Gas, Mr Ekoerikpe Ekpo on Thursday inaugurated 300 million mscfd gas capacity in Delta State.
The 300 MMscfd Kwale gas gathering facility was built by Nedogas Development Company Limited and located at Umusam community near Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ekpo said that the official inauguration of the plant marked not just a turning point for Delta State, but also a major turning point in Nigeria’s continuous quest to use its abundant natural gas resources for the country’s development.
He said, “The result of a strategic collaboration between Nedogas Limited and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board represents a significant advancement in the country’s efforts to promote sustainability, energy efficiency, and economic expansion.
“It emphasises how dedicated the Federal Government is to increasing gas usage, broadening our energy sources, and lessening our influence on the environment.
“The Kwale Gas Gathering Facility and the Nedogas Plant mark a dramatic improvement in our country’s capacity to extract and use natural gas resources properly.
“We will be able to process natural gas more efficiently at the Nedogas Plant, which will increase both our domestic supply and export potential,” it declared.
He said the establishment promised to significantly boost Nigeria’s economy by generating jobs, fostering industrial expansion, and ensuring energy security.
In his remarks, Governor Sheriff Oborevweri of Delta State said the projects would benefit Nigerians, particularly Deltans.
“Nigeria boasts of a reserve base of 208.83 trillion cubic feet of gas, which represents 33 percent of Africa’s total gas reserves, thus making her the ninth among countries with a high concentration of natural gas in the world.
“So, with these projects, the energy needs of Nigerians will get a boost, especially in the critical area of supply,” he averred.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nedogas Development Company Limited, Mr Emeka Ene, stated the KGG Facility, with its impressive capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day, was a testament to what could be achieved when innovation, determination, and strategic partnerships.
He said the facility was designed to address one of the most pressing challenges in the energy sector—stranded gas resources, by providing infrastructure for gas gathering, compression, injection, metering, and reducing gas flaring in the area.